WEBVTT 231 00:27:19.645 --> 00:27:23.565 But what's going on? Hope family. How we feeling? All right. All right. 232 00:27:23.765 --> 00:27:24.605 All right. Uh, 233 00:27:24.905 --> 00:27:28.805 we are in week four of a series that we have been calling a fresh start. Uh, 234 00:27:28.885 --> 00:27:31.765 I was at a place in my life where I needed a fresh start. Um, 235 00:27:32.195 --> 00:27:34.805 there's been many of them. Uh, it was 1997. 236 00:27:35.205 --> 00:27:38.925 I was a freshman on the North Carolina State University wrestling team. 237 00:27:39.465 --> 00:27:40.365 And I'm telling you, 238 00:27:40.435 --> 00:27:44.645 like I was gonna hit the ground running and take the world by storm, uh, 239 00:27:44.646 --> 00:27:48.725 coming outta North Carolina. And, uh, it was all systems go. 240 00:27:49.085 --> 00:27:52.685 I won my first wrestle off. I was gonna start beat a returning a CC champion. 241 00:27:53.545 --> 00:27:56.045 And uh, then I got hurt, uh, 242 00:27:56.185 --> 00:28:00.325 did some nerve damage on my neck through a series of testing and MRI had a 243 00:28:00.326 --> 00:28:03.165 doctor look at me and say, this pains me to tell you this, 244 00:28:03.665 --> 00:28:06.005 but you're not gonna be able to wrestle this year. And most likely, 245 00:28:06.006 --> 00:28:10.125 you're never gonna be able to wrestle again. Uh, so what you had was a, 246 00:28:10.205 --> 00:28:12.605 a college freshman that had all these big dreams and I I, 247 00:28:12.665 --> 00:28:14.725 my identity completely wrapped up in wrestling. 248 00:28:15.025 --> 00:28:19.765 And I quickly turned to what many turned to their freshman year in 249 00:28:19.766 --> 00:28:23.765 college, uh, as a young man searching for his identity and I mean, you name it. 250 00:28:24.005 --> 00:28:28.405 And, and I was into it, went through that year, got to the end of the year, 251 00:28:28.845 --> 00:28:32.965 realized how much I missed wrestling, and I thought, who knows? 252 00:28:33.035 --> 00:28:35.765 Like maybe a miracle could have happened. Maybe I've gotten better. 253 00:28:35.785 --> 00:28:37.965 And so I went and talked to our training staff, uh, 254 00:28:37.966 --> 00:28:40.765 went and talked to a couple doctors, ran some other tests, 255 00:28:41.175 --> 00:28:44.445 ended up getting cleared to be able to wrestle again. And so I was like, okay, 256 00:28:44.446 --> 00:28:46.765 this is it. This is my fresh start now, this is when it starts. 257 00:28:47.025 --> 00:28:51.885 But what I found out was a recipe to being a successful division one wrestler is 258 00:28:51.886 --> 00:28:55.725 not taking an entire year drinking too much, staying out too late, 259 00:28:55.775 --> 00:28:58.005 maybe lifting some weights to get as big as you can, 260 00:28:58.006 --> 00:29:00.205 but carrying zero about your cardiovascular system. 261 00:29:01.585 --> 00:29:05.965 And so I hit the ground as a sophomore, a red sharp freshman, and man, 262 00:29:05.966 --> 00:29:07.725 it just wasn't the same anymore. Like, 263 00:29:08.085 --> 00:29:10.685 I was not in the place that I thought that I was gonna be. 264 00:29:10.785 --> 00:29:13.605 Now the story kind of turns, but I had a couple years, 265 00:29:13.745 --> 00:29:16.605 I'm talking like sub 500 seasons not what I was used to. 266 00:29:16.725 --> 00:29:19.805 I had to learn a new head game. Like how do you compete when matches are close? 267 00:29:20.825 --> 00:29:23.805 It did make a turn. I ended up, uh, wrestling my senior year, 268 00:29:23.806 --> 00:29:27.765 ended up winning A-C-A-C-C championships. So go pack, that's a big deal, uh, 269 00:29:27.766 --> 00:29:28.225 for me. 270 00:29:28.225 --> 00:29:33.165 But what I learned was just because you get a fresh start doesn't 271 00:29:33.166 --> 00:29:35.965 mean it's always gonna be easy. Uh, here's what I know. Uh, 272 00:29:35.975 --> 00:29:40.325 every single one of us are either in a place right now in our lives or we're 273 00:29:40.326 --> 00:29:44.605 going to be in a place where we're gonna need a fresh start in our lives. Um, 274 00:29:45.075 --> 00:29:49.005 life comes at us fast. Like sometimes we get a bit lost. Uh, 275 00:29:49.465 --> 00:29:52.405 figure out marriage is a little bit more difficult than we thought it was gonna 276 00:29:52.406 --> 00:29:57.205 be. Find out parenting is way harder than we thought it was gonna be. Uh, 277 00:29:57.206 --> 00:30:00.605 maybe if you're a student in college, you end up getting, hanging out with the, 278 00:30:00.755 --> 00:30:01.685 with the wrong crowd. 279 00:30:02.005 --> 00:30:04.005 Or maybe you're just in a place where the bottom hadn't fallen out. 280 00:30:04.006 --> 00:30:04.526 But you know, 281 00:30:04.526 --> 00:30:08.245 you're just not living a life surrender to Christ in the ways that he's called 282 00:30:08.246 --> 00:30:12.605 you to live your life. We need a fresh start. And so if that's you, 283 00:30:12.606 --> 00:30:14.565 I've got some good news and some bad news. Uh, 284 00:30:14.566 --> 00:30:18.525 the good news is our God is a God of new beginnings and fresh starts. 285 00:30:19.825 --> 00:30:24.245 The bad news is, is that following God comes with opposition and challenges, 286 00:30:24.945 --> 00:30:29.285 period, end of story. Like Jesus tells us in this life, you will face trials. 287 00:30:29.545 --> 00:30:32.565 And if, if we're supposed to follow Jesus with our lives, 288 00:30:33.065 --> 00:30:35.485 Jesus' life ultimately culminated with him. 289 00:30:35.865 --> 00:30:39.525 Giving his life on a cross for the sake of other people is gonna cost us 290 00:30:39.526 --> 00:30:42.525 something. And so the question really is, when opposition comes, 291 00:30:43.675 --> 00:30:47.965 what are we gonna do about it? How are we gonna respond? Do we fold 292 00:30:49.825 --> 00:30:53.765 or do we stand strong? Uh, do we look at the opposition and stare at it and say, 293 00:30:53.766 --> 00:30:54.925 man, I don't know all this brokenness. 294 00:30:55.045 --> 00:30:57.805 Or do we turn our attention and do we look to God? Do, 295 00:30:57.985 --> 00:31:01.405 do we point fingers at what others have done? Do we own what we can own? 296 00:31:01.425 --> 00:31:05.885 Do we sit in fear or do we remember what it is that we're fighting for? 297 00:31:07.805 --> 00:31:09.405 Uh, to get some answers? What we're gonna do in just a moment, 298 00:31:09.406 --> 00:31:12.165 we're gonna unpack Nehemiah chapter four. Uh, 299 00:31:12.166 --> 00:31:14.245 what we've seen though in the first few weeks, 300 00:31:14.265 --> 00:31:18.005 and I'm gonna do my best to review quickly. Uh, you see God's people, 301 00:31:18.105 --> 00:31:21.605 the Israelites, they're who really aren't all that different than you and I, 302 00:31:22.185 --> 00:31:25.445 but they're getting a fresh start, uh, back in Jerusalem, 303 00:31:25.446 --> 00:31:28.525 back in their promised land that God promised to them after being exiled out of 304 00:31:28.526 --> 00:31:31.765 Jerusalem for about 70 years, held captives in Babylon. 305 00:31:31.945 --> 00:31:36.845 So they're getting a fresh start back over in Jerusalem. Uh, we see Nehemiah, 306 00:31:36.985 --> 00:31:40.205 who is, um, he's a cup bearer to the king. He's an Israelite, 307 00:31:40.206 --> 00:31:41.845 but a cup bearer to the king of Persia. 308 00:31:42.465 --> 00:31:46.965 And his brother comes back to him from Jerusalem to give a report on how the, 309 00:31:46.966 --> 00:31:50.125 what the state of affairs are back in Jerusalem. And his bad news, 310 00:31:50.355 --> 00:31:53.725 like we see in chapter one, he says, listen, the, the city's still destroyed. 311 00:31:54.065 --> 00:31:57.085 The walls are broken down, burned stones all over the place. 312 00:31:57.305 --> 00:31:59.925 And the the people are in a place of shame. 313 00:32:00.185 --> 00:32:03.725 And they're fearful because there's these other leaders and um, 314 00:32:03.726 --> 00:32:06.525 other people groups in the region that they're worried about being overthrown. 315 00:32:06.855 --> 00:32:10.885 Maybe they're not gonna become the people of God that God promised that they 316 00:32:10.886 --> 00:32:13.005 would become. And so we saw four things out in Nehemiah. 317 00:32:13.006 --> 00:32:17.645 He takes inventory of the situation. Um, he listens, he asks some questions, uh, 318 00:32:17.955 --> 00:32:22.045 that when he finds out what's going on, he actually sits in the brokenness. 319 00:32:22.915 --> 00:32:27.285 That brokenness moves him to humble prayer before God confessing sins on behalf 320 00:32:27.286 --> 00:32:29.085 of the people, which really led them. 321 00:32:29.105 --> 00:32:31.445 It was their own sin that led them into the, uh, 322 00:32:31.446 --> 00:32:34.565 into the exile in the first place. But then through that humble prayer, 323 00:32:34.785 --> 00:32:39.005 it moved him to act. That's chapter one. You get to chapter two. 324 00:32:39.585 --> 00:32:42.445 And what we see is what we're gonna see a little bit when we look at chapter 325 00:32:42.475 --> 00:32:46.365 four. But we see that when we align with God for a fresh start, man, 326 00:32:46.366 --> 00:32:49.125 there is gonna be some opposition. And so it's gonna require some trust. 327 00:32:49.385 --> 00:32:51.925 So we saw Nehemiah that he, he trusted in God's timing, 328 00:32:52.645 --> 00:32:54.845 that God calls us into something and we think that we want it right now. 329 00:32:56.205 --> 00:32:59.725 But God does something in the waiting. There's a purpose in the waiting. Uh, 330 00:32:59.785 --> 00:33:03.445 we see that God's calling is greater than man's rumblings. 331 00:33:03.446 --> 00:33:06.325 There's always gonna be naysayers. We're gonna see that again in chapter four. 332 00:33:06.625 --> 00:33:09.005 And then we see that God is bigger than the brokenness. 333 00:33:09.005 --> 00:33:11.365 Like Nehemiah looked around, he saw all the broken stones, 334 00:33:11.366 --> 00:33:13.245 he saw the brokenness around him, but he thought, no, no, no, 335 00:33:13.246 --> 00:33:16.125 God is bigger than this. And then you get to chapter three, 336 00:33:16.385 --> 00:33:19.085 and the Israelites have like rallied around Nehemiah. They said, 337 00:33:19.135 --> 00:33:22.085 let's arise together and let's build this wall. 338 00:33:22.505 --> 00:33:25.245 And we see God bringing a fresh start through his people. 339 00:33:26.065 --> 00:33:29.645 But the principles that we saw last week is when we're trusting God for a fresh 340 00:33:29.646 --> 00:33:32.125 start, oftentimes it starts at home. Like it starts in our own lives. 341 00:33:32.865 --> 00:33:35.085 It starts at what's right outside of our front door. 342 00:33:35.305 --> 00:33:38.525 And so we gotta pay attention where's God placed us, where we live, learn, work, 343 00:33:38.526 --> 00:33:41.725 and play. If God, Jesus is gonna build his church through us in our lives, 344 00:33:41.785 --> 00:33:45.405 it starts at home. We saw that everybody has a role to play, 345 00:33:45.555 --> 00:33:47.805 like it's all hands on deck within the family of God. 346 00:33:47.815 --> 00:33:49.125 We've all been uniquely gifted. 347 00:33:49.126 --> 00:33:51.605 We've all been uniquely called to serve God in a certain way. 348 00:33:51.985 --> 00:33:54.685 And then we saw that it requires a we over me attitude. 349 00:33:54.755 --> 00:33:57.925 Like it's not just about my personal preferences, 350 00:33:58.395 --> 00:34:03.325 it's about God's plans and purposes. And so we wrapped up chapter three, 351 00:34:03.385 --> 00:34:05.885 man and the Israelites, they're just humming. Like they're building the wall, 352 00:34:05.886 --> 00:34:08.245 everything's going good. But just like we said earlier, 353 00:34:08.565 --> 00:34:11.005 our God is a God of new beginnings and fresh starts. 354 00:34:11.185 --> 00:34:15.965 But just like we know in our own lives following God comes with 355 00:34:15.966 --> 00:34:17.925 opposition. And it comes to challenges. 356 00:34:18.945 --> 00:34:21.085 And so we're gonna pick up in chapter four here. 357 00:34:21.344 --> 00:34:25.165 And what I want you to do is we walk through this. I i want you to stay with me. 358 00:34:25.166 --> 00:34:29.085 We're literally gonna work almost verse by verse through Nehemiah chapter four. 359 00:34:29.185 --> 00:34:30.018 So stay with me. 360 00:34:30.385 --> 00:34:33.725 But I want you to put a lens on of thinking through like what does this look 361 00:34:33.726 --> 00:34:36.285 like for me in my personal life to get a fresh start? 362 00:34:37.344 --> 00:34:39.885 But I also want you to think about it in terms of your church family. 363 00:34:39.915 --> 00:34:41.685 Like God's word is for us, 364 00:34:42.025 --> 00:34:46.525 but God's heart has always been for his people and his people in today's 365 00:34:47.225 --> 00:34:50.645 age, or is his church. And so I want you to think through it, 366 00:34:50.646 --> 00:34:52.844 through your personal life, through the life of the church. Uh, 367 00:34:52.875 --> 00:34:55.765 it's no secret as a church, we've been through a ton over the last three years. 368 00:34:55.965 --> 00:34:58.045 So I'm certain we're gonna see some things that'll apply to us as well. 369 00:34:58.105 --> 00:35:02.364 So Nehemiah chapter four, verse one. It says, now, 370 00:35:02.365 --> 00:35:05.445 when sand ballot heard that we were building the wall, 371 00:35:05.825 --> 00:35:10.725 he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered the Jews. Uh, 372 00:35:10.726 --> 00:35:14.844 we covered this a couple weeks ago. Sand ballot was, uh, a leader in the region. 373 00:35:15.245 --> 00:35:19.525 Uh, he had had, he has influence in the area, uh, and him, 374 00:35:19.844 --> 00:35:23.725 his sand ballot and Tobias, uh, are seen together throughout the, 375 00:35:23.726 --> 00:35:26.605 the book of Nehemiah. And the entire time, 376 00:35:26.606 --> 00:35:30.325 like they do not want God's people to rebuild this city because they know if 377 00:35:30.326 --> 00:35:33.045 they do, if they establish it and it becomes a city that prospers, 378 00:35:33.235 --> 00:35:36.645 they're gonna lose power and influence. And so in this story, 379 00:35:36.705 --> 00:35:39.325 the opposition is sand ballot and Tobias, 380 00:35:40.864 --> 00:35:44.165 but I want you to know, like I've done this the last couple weeks, 381 00:35:44.285 --> 00:35:46.405 I want us to see it in the context of Nehemiah, 382 00:35:46.406 --> 00:35:49.045 but I want us to see it in the context of our own lives. 383 00:35:49.065 --> 00:35:51.645 And so when we flip to the New Testament, we see the new covenant. 384 00:35:51.665 --> 00:35:55.844 We understand that like God's people are no longer just the Israelites, 385 00:35:55.845 --> 00:35:59.085 but now the family of God has been opened up to all of us, every man, woman, 386 00:35:59.105 --> 00:36:02.245 and student who would believe in the gospel and call in the name of Jesus. 387 00:36:02.705 --> 00:36:06.565 And when we, when, when we believe that we are a part of the family of God, 388 00:36:07.265 --> 00:36:10.925 but now our opposition is no longer flesh and blood. Uh, 389 00:36:11.085 --> 00:36:14.725 I talked about this last week and uh, I think I've got a marker here for I do. 390 00:36:14.726 --> 00:36:16.645 Ephesians chapter six. Uh, it says, 391 00:36:16.785 --> 00:36:19.965 for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, 392 00:36:19.966 --> 00:36:20.844 against authorities, 393 00:36:20.845 --> 00:36:25.525 against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against spiritual forces of 394 00:36:25.526 --> 00:36:27.325 evil and the heavenly places. 395 00:36:28.305 --> 00:36:32.445 And so I tell you that because I don't want you just to focus on Samalot and 396 00:36:32.505 --> 00:36:35.645 Tobias is the bad guy. Uh, I want you to see the enemy for who he is. 397 00:36:36.325 --> 00:36:39.245 'cause what's gonna happen in our lives is other people in our lives are gonna 398 00:36:39.246 --> 00:36:41.005 do things to us that we don't like. 399 00:36:41.745 --> 00:36:45.844 And we're gonna be tempted to blame them when the reality is they're not our 400 00:36:46.045 --> 00:36:47.405 enemy. We don't wrestle against flesh and blood. 401 00:36:47.625 --> 00:36:49.965 So let's make sure we have the right perspective as we work through this. 402 00:36:49.965 --> 00:36:53.245 But I do want you to see that it says he was greatly enraged. 403 00:36:53.246 --> 00:36:56.725 He was angry and that he mocked the Jews because our enemy, the devil, 404 00:36:57.105 --> 00:36:58.364 the Bible tells us, he, 405 00:36:58.365 --> 00:37:03.364 he roars around like a line and he wants to devour our lives. He wants to steal, 406 00:37:04.075 --> 00:37:07.805 kill, destroy, and he wants to rob you of the kingdom life that God has for us. 407 00:37:08.485 --> 00:37:11.525 You go to verse two, and he said, Samalot said, 408 00:37:11.526 --> 00:37:14.005 in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, 409 00:37:14.515 --> 00:37:19.125 what are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? 410 00:37:20.355 --> 00:37:23.165 Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? 411 00:37:23.166 --> 00:37:27.885 Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish and burn ones at that 412 00:37:28.425 --> 00:37:31.405 to buy? The ammonite was beside 'em. And he said, yes. What are they building? 413 00:37:32.035 --> 00:37:36.325 Even if a fox goes up on it, he'll break down their stonewall. 414 00:37:39.665 --> 00:37:41.405 You ever heard some naysayers? 415 00:37:42.825 --> 00:37:46.885 You ever hear this voice like in the back of your head saying, yeah, 416 00:37:46.886 --> 00:37:48.645 maybe you think God's called you into that, 417 00:37:48.705 --> 00:37:53.645 but you don't really have what it takes. Like maybe it's not a person. 418 00:37:54.005 --> 00:37:55.405 'cause I'm telling you, our enemy does that. 419 00:37:55.406 --> 00:37:57.885 Like he finds a way to get these voices in our head. 420 00:37:57.985 --> 00:38:00.805 And I'm not saying like an audible voice, but like we get this sense like, 421 00:38:00.806 --> 00:38:03.805 maybe I don't have what it takes. And we start doubting. 422 00:38:03.885 --> 00:38:06.364 And you find yourself in a place of like, you, you hear this voice, 423 00:38:08.025 --> 00:38:11.965 you call yourself a Christian, and you live your life that way. 424 00:38:14.185 --> 00:38:17.685 Do you really believe that God could use you in the way that you think 425 00:38:18.605 --> 00:38:21.245 interacting? Like God can use you in the lives of other people? 426 00:38:24.765 --> 00:38:25.805 I mean, you've had an abortion. 427 00:38:25.945 --> 00:38:29.565 Do you really think that you deserve to be able to show up at a church service? 428 00:38:31.344 --> 00:38:33.245 And the answer to that is in unashamedly, yes, 429 00:38:33.725 --> 00:38:37.364 absolutely you do because the son of God died for you and died for me. But man, 430 00:38:37.365 --> 00:38:40.925 we get these voices in our head, in our head, whether it's from the inside, 431 00:38:40.926 --> 00:38:43.085 whether it's from the outside, whether it's from our enemy. 432 00:38:44.805 --> 00:38:47.945 And you gotta, you gotta see it for what it is. 433 00:38:47.946 --> 00:38:51.785 You gotta recognize this is opposition against the things of God. 434 00:38:55.235 --> 00:38:58.945 Verse four, I want you to think through what your response would be. All right? 435 00:38:58.946 --> 00:39:01.465 You're chasing after the thing that God's put in your life, 436 00:39:01.485 --> 00:39:02.985 the thing that God has called you to. 437 00:39:03.205 --> 00:39:05.905 And then you got some people coming after you, some people mocking you. 438 00:39:06.145 --> 00:39:08.185 I know what I would be tempted to do. Uh, 439 00:39:08.364 --> 00:39:11.625 it would be use some of the skills that I developed as a division one college 440 00:39:11.705 --> 00:39:16.425 wrestler. Uh, look at what Nehemiah does here. Verse four, hear, 441 00:39:16.945 --> 00:39:21.864 oh our God. Of course, he goes to God in prayer for we are despised. 442 00:39:22.895 --> 00:39:27.265 Turn back their taunt on their heads and give them up to be plundered in a land 443 00:39:27.505 --> 00:39:28.745 where they are captives, he's saying, 444 00:39:28.965 --> 00:39:31.385 put them through the same thing that you put us through. 445 00:39:32.445 --> 00:39:35.985 Do not cover their guilt. And let not their sin be blotted out from your sight. 446 00:39:36.165 --> 00:39:39.985 For they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 447 00:39:40.465 --> 00:39:42.705 A lot of us know the Bible tells us to pray for our enemies. 448 00:39:43.735 --> 00:39:46.985 This probably isn't the type of prayer that we think about. Um, 449 00:39:47.364 --> 00:39:51.825 and it's not the one that I normally recommend. This is, uh, what this is. 450 00:39:52.145 --> 00:39:55.705 It it, it's called an imprecatory prayer. You see these throughout the Psalms. 451 00:39:55.706 --> 00:39:57.385 This is like, um, this is a, 452 00:39:57.625 --> 00:40:02.425 a prayer that aligns with God's heart for justice and beckons God's justice 453 00:40:02.525 --> 00:40:05.065 in the midst of the situation. Alright? Um, 454 00:40:05.485 --> 00:40:08.864 I'm not encouraging you to pray that God would smite other people. 455 00:40:09.025 --> 00:40:10.905 I just want you to know what it is that's going on here. 456 00:40:10.906 --> 00:40:13.465 We should pray for our enemies. We should pray that they come, uh, 457 00:40:13.525 --> 00:40:17.145 to know Jesus. Uh, verse six. Um, 458 00:40:18.085 --> 00:40:22.545 so we built the wall and all the wall was joined together to half its height for 459 00:40:22.546 --> 00:40:25.745 the people had a mind to work. What you, 460 00:40:25.746 --> 00:40:29.545 what that means is like their mind was now set to work like all this jeering, 461 00:40:29.565 --> 00:40:33.185 all this mockery, all this. You can't do this. You can't do that. 462 00:40:33.575 --> 00:40:34.705 They weren't phased by it. 463 00:40:35.445 --> 00:40:39.225 And we have this temptation to like get caught up in all the drama and to 464 00:40:39.226 --> 00:40:41.945 concern ourselves of whether or not somebody else believes that we can do what 465 00:40:41.946 --> 00:40:45.625 it is that God's called us to do, when at the end of the day, it's God's that, 466 00:40:45.825 --> 00:40:48.065 that it's called ust into it. And so I want you to see, we're gonna, 467 00:40:48.085 --> 00:40:51.185 I'm gonna say this probably a few times, uh, throughout our time together. 468 00:40:51.965 --> 00:40:54.265 But when we're seeking God for a fresh start, 469 00:40:54.266 --> 00:40:57.745 when we're following him into what it is that he's calling us towards, 470 00:40:57.746 --> 00:40:58.585 sometimes, uh, 471 00:40:58.586 --> 00:41:00.745 there's two things that we need to make sure to keep our attention. 472 00:41:01.165 --> 00:41:03.864 One is a prayerful dependence on God. 473 00:41:05.465 --> 00:41:08.065 And the second is a humble dependence on one another. 474 00:41:08.725 --> 00:41:11.105 And you see that right here, like he goes to God. He says, 475 00:41:11.175 --> 00:41:13.864 this is not my battle to fight God. This is your battle to fight. 476 00:41:14.135 --> 00:41:16.545 He's got this prayerful dependence on God. 477 00:41:16.805 --> 00:41:19.425 But then there's this humble interdependence on one another. 478 00:41:19.426 --> 00:41:22.385 Like they go back and they build a wall. Everybody's got a job. 479 00:41:22.485 --> 00:41:24.344 So we trust that God does his part. 480 00:41:24.525 --> 00:41:27.705 We recognize that we've gotta do our part verse four. 481 00:41:28.445 --> 00:41:32.905 But when Samba and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the 482 00:41:33.605 --> 00:41:37.565 Asite Asite, thank you, uh, 483 00:41:37.585 --> 00:41:41.485 and the asite heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going 484 00:41:41.486 --> 00:41:44.725 forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed. 485 00:41:44.955 --> 00:41:49.285 They were very angry and they plotted together to come and fight against 486 00:41:49.435 --> 00:41:53.925 Jerusalem and cause confusion in it. Um, if you have your Bibles, 487 00:41:54.085 --> 00:41:56.885 I just want you to circle that word, confusion. Um, 488 00:41:58.675 --> 00:42:03.605 confusion has been a tactic of our enemy for thousands of years. 489 00:42:04.985 --> 00:42:08.605 It doesn't change. Uh, you go all the way back to Genesis chapter three, 490 00:42:08.606 --> 00:42:12.725 and you've got Adam and Eve in the garden, and God's commanded Adam and Eve, 491 00:42:12.726 --> 00:42:15.925 Hey, like you can eat from everything here except for this one tree, 492 00:42:15.926 --> 00:42:17.245 the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 493 00:42:18.445 --> 00:42:22.925 where the serpent shows up and goes to Eve and says, did God really say? 494 00:42:25.765 --> 00:42:29.665 And just by the way he asks his question, it leads eve to this confusion. 495 00:42:29.725 --> 00:42:30.625 She answers them. 496 00:42:30.725 --> 00:42:34.465 You can tell she's kind of dancing around the answer a little bit. 497 00:42:35.045 --> 00:42:37.665 And then confusion leads to dis disillusionment. 498 00:42:37.685 --> 00:42:39.545 Disillusionment leads to thinking like, 499 00:42:40.475 --> 00:42:43.545 maybe there is something else that's being withheld from me. Um, 500 00:42:43.955 --> 00:42:46.265 maybe I would be better off if I'm making my own decisions. 501 00:42:46.525 --> 00:42:47.625 And so we gotta recognize, 502 00:42:47.745 --> 00:42:50.344 like when we find ourselves in situations of confusion, 503 00:42:50.655 --> 00:42:54.505 that is not necessarily of God, that is a tactic of our enemy. 504 00:42:54.506 --> 00:42:56.785 It's been true for thousands of years. It's gonna be true. Now, 505 00:42:56.786 --> 00:42:59.145 when God's called us into the things that he has for us in our lives, 506 00:43:00.585 --> 00:43:03.385 you get to verse nine. So what do they, what do we do right? What do we do? 507 00:43:03.386 --> 00:43:05.705 There's confusion, there's more opposition, there's more challenges. 508 00:43:05.706 --> 00:43:08.945 What do we do? And we prayed. 509 00:43:10.085 --> 00:43:11.225 We prayed to our God, 510 00:43:11.325 --> 00:43:15.265 and we set a guard of protection against them day and night. 511 00:43:15.485 --> 00:43:18.665 The same thing like this. There's this recognition, 512 00:43:18.695 --> 00:43:21.905 I've gotta go to God in prayer, but at the same time, 513 00:43:21.925 --> 00:43:24.385 we have this humble interdependence on one another. We've gotta work. 514 00:43:24.386 --> 00:43:27.465 We've gotta trust God's gonna do his part. We've gotta do our part. 515 00:43:28.875 --> 00:43:31.785 Verse 10, in Judah, it was said, 516 00:43:32.245 --> 00:43:35.105 the strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. 517 00:43:37.165 --> 00:43:39.465 You ever been in a place where you feel like you're praying as much as you can? 518 00:43:39.466 --> 00:43:40.385 You're doing everything you can, 519 00:43:40.386 --> 00:43:44.125 but you still feel like you're running outta gas? Um, 520 00:43:45.915 --> 00:43:48.175 I'm not trying to play a martyr card here, but I I'm just telling you, 521 00:43:48.176 --> 00:43:48.696 some of our, 522 00:43:48.696 --> 00:43:51.895 our elders are in the room like they know kind of my journey over the last four 523 00:43:52.015 --> 00:43:55.455 or five years. I've had like days, weeks, months where I'm like, I, 524 00:43:57.325 --> 00:43:59.805 I just don't know how much longer I can keep going the way things are looking. 525 00:44:02.385 --> 00:44:03.218 The Jews were there, 526 00:44:04.985 --> 00:44:09.245 the strength of those who bear the burden is failing. There's too much rubble. 527 00:44:09.246 --> 00:44:13.685 Listen to what they say by ourselves. We will not be able to rebuild the wall. 528 00:44:15.895 --> 00:44:18.675 And that kind of sounds depressing, like by ourselves. 529 00:44:18.695 --> 00:44:20.594 We won't be able to do this. There's no way we can do it. 530 00:44:20.595 --> 00:44:21.475 But you know what the truth is? 531 00:44:22.495 --> 00:44:25.645 The truth is they were right by their selves. 532 00:44:25.646 --> 00:44:28.885 They couldn't rebuild a wall and by myself. 533 00:44:29.005 --> 00:44:32.565 I couldn't rebuild a wall by yourself. You couldn't rebuild a wall 534 00:44:35.235 --> 00:44:37.905 throughout the pages of scripture. For thousands of years, 535 00:44:38.235 --> 00:44:39.985 God's heart has been to get his people, 536 00:44:40.235 --> 00:44:43.665 allow his people to get to a place where they recognize they can't do it on 537 00:44:43.666 --> 00:44:47.375 their own. I mean, to a degree, that's the gospel. 538 00:44:49.165 --> 00:44:52.495 Like if you think for a moment that you can earn your way back to God, 539 00:44:54.255 --> 00:44:57.015 man, nothing can be further from the truth. But the good news, we don't have to, 540 00:44:57.075 --> 00:45:00.335 we don't have to do it by ourselves. The gospel says in our brokenness, 541 00:45:00.594 --> 00:45:01.427 in our sinfulness, 542 00:45:01.594 --> 00:45:05.775 in our inability to ever earn our way back to the standard that God has for us 543 00:45:05.776 --> 00:45:07.495 to earn our way back to our relationship with God, 544 00:45:07.496 --> 00:45:11.015 to live out his plans and purposes that he has for us in our lives to receive 545 00:45:11.016 --> 00:45:14.055 that fresh start. We cannot do it. But Jesus willingly, 546 00:45:14.056 --> 00:45:16.775 left heaven came to earth, walked among us, 547 00:45:17.485 --> 00:45:20.655 went to a cross to pay the penalty that you and I deserve to pay. 548 00:45:20.675 --> 00:45:24.094 He went into a tomb, rose again three days later, overcoming sin and death. 549 00:45:24.155 --> 00:45:29.055 And the power that rose Jesus from the dead is the power that is available to 550 00:45:29.056 --> 00:45:33.255 us. And so when we say by ourselves, we can't build the wall, that's true, 551 00:45:33.275 --> 00:45:34.495 but through the power of God, 552 00:45:35.035 --> 00:45:38.015 we can see the church of Jesus Christ built through the power of God. 553 00:45:38.035 --> 00:45:40.055 We can live into what it is that God has for us. 554 00:45:42.835 --> 00:45:47.495 And we get in these places sometimes in our lives when we think if we could just 555 00:45:47.496 --> 00:45:51.185 plan better, if we can just strategize better, 556 00:45:52.875 --> 00:45:54.575 if somebody would've made a better decision. 557 00:45:58.055 --> 00:45:59.975 And man, there's some, there might be some truth to that. 558 00:45:59.976 --> 00:46:02.415 Like we should always be growing. We should always be looking to ourselves. 559 00:46:02.515 --> 00:46:04.855 I'm a big believer in extreme ownership. But at the same time, 560 00:46:04.856 --> 00:46:09.215 like if we don't recognize that really without a prayerful dependence on God, 561 00:46:09.675 --> 00:46:11.135 man, none of this stuff stands a chance 562 00:46:18.355 --> 00:46:20.655 by ourselves, we won't be able to rebuild the wall. Verse 11. 563 00:46:21.315 --> 00:46:24.185 And our enemy said, listen to this. 564 00:46:24.186 --> 00:46:26.065 They're turning up the temperature now so that, 565 00:46:26.085 --> 00:46:28.905 so it sounds like the Israelites are getting weaker, 566 00:46:28.925 --> 00:46:30.465 the opposition's turning up the heat. 567 00:46:30.565 --> 00:46:35.105 And our enemy said they will not know or see till we come among them and kill 568 00:46:35.106 --> 00:46:36.545 them and stop the work. 569 00:46:38.344 --> 00:46:42.245 So they're legitimately talking about killing them, right? Like this is a, 570 00:46:42.246 --> 00:46:46.205 this is pretty significant. Um, I want to do like a group exercise. 571 00:46:46.225 --> 00:46:48.325 So we're gonna, we're gonna talk to each other. 572 00:46:48.505 --> 00:46:51.405 So I'm gonna ask you a question across all of our campuses, 573 00:46:51.585 --> 00:46:54.525 and then you're gonna actually respond. So here's the first question. 574 00:46:55.065 --> 00:46:59.725 Do you actually believe that God had called the Israelites to 575 00:46:59.726 --> 00:47:00.559 rebuild the wall? 576 00:47:01.765 --> 00:47:02.215 Yes. 577 00:47:02.215 --> 00:47:05.725 Great job. That was fantastic. Okay. 578 00:47:07.855 --> 00:47:10.985 Also, see, you have people trying to kill them for building it. 579 00:47:11.525 --> 00:47:15.665 Do you believe in fact that there are opposition and challenges facing the 580 00:47:15.666 --> 00:47:19.185 Israelites doing what God's called them to do? Yes. Okay, 581 00:47:19.565 --> 00:47:21.344 here's the temptation in life. 582 00:47:22.385 --> 00:47:26.745 I really thought God had called me into this, but now it's really, really hard. 583 00:47:27.114 --> 00:47:28.385 Maybe he's not in it. 584 00:47:31.655 --> 00:47:36.235 That's not what we see in scripture. Family. I like the truth is, 585 00:47:36.236 --> 00:47:39.675 if you're fighting for something worth fighting for, it's going to be a fight. 586 00:47:40.135 --> 00:47:43.755 We have an enemy that does not want to see God's plans and purposes go forward 587 00:47:43.756 --> 00:47:46.915 in our life. In fact, I would say if you're not facing opposition, 588 00:47:47.255 --> 00:47:49.275 you might want to ask where you are and what you're doing. 589 00:47:50.695 --> 00:47:53.395 And when the opposition really turns up the temperature, 590 00:47:53.735 --> 00:47:58.715 it might be because something really big is about to happen. And so, man, 591 00:47:58.915 --> 00:48:00.594 my my hope and my prayer is your pastor, 592 00:48:00.655 --> 00:48:03.955 it would just be that you would understand. No, when things get hard, , 593 00:48:04.855 --> 00:48:07.515 that's when God's getting us to that place saying, okay, 594 00:48:07.635 --> 00:48:11.835 I cannot do this on my own. It requires a prayerful dependence on God. 595 00:48:11.836 --> 00:48:15.235 And we get down on our knees and we say, God, if you don't move, and God's like, 596 00:48:15.435 --> 00:48:20.195 yep, that's what we needed. You gotta know, man, 597 00:48:20.355 --> 00:48:23.915 we like, just because we have opposition does not mean that God's not in it. 598 00:48:26.445 --> 00:48:31.155 Verse 12, at that time, the Jews who lived near them came from all directions. 599 00:48:31.175 --> 00:48:33.195 See, all these Jews that heard, they're gonna come and kill you. 600 00:48:33.196 --> 00:48:34.755 They're gonna come and kill you. And these Jews, 601 00:48:34.756 --> 00:48:37.395 they care about their other Jewish and Israelite family. 602 00:48:37.495 --> 00:48:39.835 So all these Jews who live near them from all directions, 603 00:48:39.836 --> 00:48:43.395 and they said to us 10 times, you must return to us. 604 00:48:43.614 --> 00:48:46.155 You know what they're saying? They're saying, if you don't stop, 605 00:48:46.156 --> 00:48:50.275 they're going to come and they're going to kill you. You need to let it go. 606 00:48:50.614 --> 00:48:54.995 The dream's too big. The dream's over. It can't be done retreat. 607 00:48:55.305 --> 00:48:58.675 It's not worth it. And I don't know what God's placed on your heart. 608 00:48:58.755 --> 00:49:01.675 I don't know what your fresh start is for you and your personal life. 609 00:49:01.915 --> 00:49:04.995 I know a little bit about what it is for us at Hope Community Church. 610 00:49:05.255 --> 00:49:08.114 But I'm telling you, when God calls you into something big, 611 00:49:08.465 --> 00:49:09.955 it's gonna come from all over the place. 612 00:49:10.185 --> 00:49:12.114 It's gonna come from opposition from the outside. 613 00:49:12.344 --> 00:49:14.275 It's gonna come from opposition from the inside. 614 00:49:14.465 --> 00:49:16.955 It's gonna come from opposition in our voice. We're gonna hear this thing. 615 00:49:17.015 --> 00:49:21.355 You're not good enough. You can't do it. It's gonna happen. 616 00:49:23.155 --> 00:49:27.245 I asked the question at the beginning, what do we do? Do we fold? 617 00:49:29.525 --> 00:49:30.765 I mean, it is always an option. 618 00:49:34.815 --> 00:49:39.285 Verse 13. So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, 619 00:49:39.485 --> 00:49:43.805 in open places, I stationed the people by their clans with their swords, 620 00:49:43.806 --> 00:49:46.925 their spears and their bows. Doesn't sound like Nehemiah's backing down. 621 00:49:47.585 --> 00:49:51.605 Sounds like he's doubling down. So this is just a military tactic, 622 00:49:51.606 --> 00:49:55.125 like he's taking the soldiers and he's placing them in the most vulnerable 623 00:49:55.126 --> 00:49:58.045 places. Um, this is just a little side note, 624 00:49:58.105 --> 00:49:59.645 has very little due with this message, 625 00:50:00.425 --> 00:50:03.565 but God's soldiers often run to the most vulnerable places 626 00:50:05.145 --> 00:50:09.405 as a part of the family of God who loves God and follows Jesus and, and, 627 00:50:09.645 --> 00:50:12.965 and longs to share hope. The hope that we have in Jesus, man, 628 00:50:12.966 --> 00:50:15.605 we run to the broken places, we run to the vulnerable. 629 00:50:18.585 --> 00:50:23.045 So he assigns them there, verse 14. And it says, 630 00:50:23.125 --> 00:50:26.364 I looked and I arose and I said to the nobles and to the officials, 631 00:50:26.425 --> 00:50:30.405 and to the rest, rest of the people. Listen. Do not be afraid of them. 632 00:50:32.005 --> 00:50:36.445 Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, 633 00:50:36.515 --> 00:50:39.885 your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. 634 00:50:43.705 --> 00:50:46.275 And I don't know what your personal wall is, 635 00:50:47.535 --> 00:50:49.275 but I know that if it's worth fighting for, 636 00:50:49.495 --> 00:50:51.315 you're facing opposition in a challenge. 637 00:50:52.135 --> 00:50:56.075 And what I wanna call you to is to get your eyes off your opposition and turn 638 00:50:56.076 --> 00:50:59.435 your eyes as he says. He says, remember the Lord who is great and awesome. 639 00:51:00.755 --> 00:51:02.715 And I I say this regularly, but man, when we, 640 00:51:02.745 --> 00:51:06.515 when we can get our eyes off this junk in our lives so we can get it to the 641 00:51:06.516 --> 00:51:09.555 creator of the universe, all this stuff pales in comparison. 642 00:51:11.585 --> 00:51:15.045 He says, remember the Lord. And then he says, remember what you're fighting for. 643 00:51:17.335 --> 00:51:19.955 And again, I don't know what you're fighting for, but at the end of the day, 644 00:51:19.956 --> 00:51:22.835 you're fighting for your family. You are fighting for God's family, 645 00:51:24.235 --> 00:51:26.395 your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives. 646 00:51:26.396 --> 00:51:29.235 You're fighting for my family. You're fighting for my two sons. 647 00:51:29.295 --> 00:51:30.594 You're fighting for my daughter 648 00:51:33.295 --> 00:51:35.035 and your homes and your community. 649 00:51:39.555 --> 00:51:43.505 Verse 15, You know what? I'm gonna do this. 650 00:51:43.785 --> 00:51:46.705 I didn't know if I was gonna do it or not. Uh, I'm gonna do it. Uh, 651 00:51:46.706 --> 00:51:49.825 another exercise. This is what I want you to do. We're a church family. 652 00:51:49.875 --> 00:51:52.665 We're a family who loves God, follows Jesus and shares hope. 653 00:51:52.844 --> 00:51:56.864 And and the word of God calls us to remember the Lord who is great and mighty. 654 00:51:57.885 --> 00:52:00.265 And remember what you're fighting for. So here's what I want you to do. 655 00:52:00.745 --> 00:52:02.265 I want you to turn to somebody next to you. 656 00:52:02.315 --> 00:52:06.425 It'll only be as awkward as you let it. Uh, and I want you to tell 'em, 657 00:52:06.426 --> 00:52:09.185 I want you to look at them in the face. And I want you to say, my name is, 658 00:52:09.955 --> 00:52:12.364 tell them your name, not my name. My name is, 659 00:52:12.945 --> 00:52:15.925 and I'm fighting for you across all of our campuses right now. My name is, 660 00:52:15.926 --> 00:52:16.805 and I'm fighting for you. 661 00:52:25.445 --> 00:52:27.765 Okay? Now, since we're there, let's turn up the awkward. Uh, 662 00:52:27.885 --> 00:52:31.565 I want you to look at 'em again. And I want you to say, 663 00:52:31.585 --> 00:52:32.925 and I need you to fight for me. 664 00:52:40.635 --> 00:52:44.165 Like seriously this stuff. Like, if it's just a story and it's just a fairytale, 665 00:52:44.166 --> 00:52:47.005 it's cool. And if I can keep your attention for 30 minutes, all the better. 666 00:52:47.825 --> 00:52:50.165 But at the end of the day, that's not what this is. 667 00:52:50.665 --> 00:52:55.085 We are the family of God and we are fighting for one another and our families, 668 00:52:55.086 --> 00:52:58.525 and we're fighting for kids back in Kid City. And we're, uh, we're, 669 00:52:59.135 --> 00:53:02.565 we're fighting for vulnerable women through ship of Zion to, 670 00:53:02.765 --> 00:53:05.645 to help rescue them out of trafficking situations. Um, 671 00:53:05.855 --> 00:53:09.245 we're fighting for kids across Wake County who are part of the foster care 672 00:53:09.246 --> 00:53:12.005 system. We're fighting for kids and families in Haiti. 673 00:53:13.925 --> 00:53:16.295 Like this is a battle that we find ourselves in. 674 00:53:16.315 --> 00:53:19.295 And we've gotta remember how great and awesome our God is, 675 00:53:19.296 --> 00:53:21.375 despite how big the brokenness around us looks. 676 00:53:21.635 --> 00:53:26.565 And we've gotta remember who it is and what we're fighting for. How much time? 677 00:53:26.675 --> 00:53:27.475 Okay, this is great. 678 00:53:27.475 --> 00:53:30.125 I've gone through half the chapter and I've got four minutes left. Well, 679 00:53:30.655 --> 00:53:34.565 we're in trouble, . All right. The rest of this, we're gonna pick it up. 680 00:53:34.566 --> 00:53:36.525 We're gonna go fast here. Uh, verse 15, 681 00:53:36.795 --> 00:53:40.805 when our enemies heard that it was known to us that God had frustrated their 682 00:53:40.915 --> 00:53:44.805 plan, we all return to the wall, each to his own work. 683 00:53:45.185 --> 00:53:49.205 You ever know notice like how a bully is a bully until you stand up to him a 684 00:53:49.206 --> 00:53:51.364 little bit? And that's what happened. 685 00:53:51.365 --> 00:53:54.325 They tried and they tried and they tried and they tried and they tried and they 686 00:53:54.326 --> 00:53:56.445 wouldn't back down. And they wouldn't back down. And like Tom Petty, 687 00:53:56.605 --> 00:54:01.225 I won't back down. Uh, it reminds me of Jesus in the desert. 688 00:54:01.645 --> 00:54:05.065 And, um, he's fasting. He's seeking God's heart for his ministry. 689 00:54:05.066 --> 00:54:09.265 And the devil shows up and timsum. And really the short of the story is, um, 690 00:54:09.355 --> 00:54:13.545 Jesus resists him really by reciting scripture to him. Um, 691 00:54:14.525 --> 00:54:17.705 and it says that the devil flees until an opportune time. 692 00:54:18.094 --> 00:54:21.065 When we stand on truth, when we stand on the word of God, 693 00:54:21.066 --> 00:54:24.505 when we stand on what it is that God says is true, the devil flees. Now, 694 00:54:24.506 --> 00:54:25.625 it doesn't mean that he won't come back. 695 00:54:26.725 --> 00:54:28.825 It doesn't mean that we're not gonna face more opposition. 696 00:54:29.625 --> 00:54:32.665 The man resistance starts by standing strong on the word of God and what it is 697 00:54:32.666 --> 00:54:35.225 that God calls us to. Verse 16, 698 00:54:35.226 --> 00:54:39.665 from that day on half my servants worked on construction and half held spears, 699 00:54:40.065 --> 00:54:42.625 shields, bows, and codes of mail. That's like saying, Hey, 700 00:54:42.626 --> 00:54:45.665 half of 'em worked and half of 'em stood on the defense in case anything 701 00:54:45.864 --> 00:54:46.205 happened. 702 00:54:46.205 --> 00:54:49.745 And then the leader stood behind the whole house of Judah who were building the 703 00:54:49.746 --> 00:54:50.155 wall. 704 00:54:50.155 --> 00:54:55.145 Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on 705 00:54:55.146 --> 00:54:58.265 their work with one hand and held his weapon in the other. 706 00:54:59.844 --> 00:55:03.305 And each of the builders had his sword strapped to his side. While he built, 707 00:55:03.844 --> 00:55:07.344 the man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. He saying, 708 00:55:07.535 --> 00:55:10.225 some people are building, uh, some people are protecting. 709 00:55:10.465 --> 00:55:13.945 I got this guy with a horn standing here, verse 19. Uh, it says, 710 00:55:13.946 --> 00:55:17.145 and then I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the 711 00:55:17.146 --> 00:55:20.185 people, listen to this. The work is great and widely spread, 712 00:55:20.186 --> 00:55:22.745 and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 713 00:55:23.325 --> 00:55:27.745 And the place where you hear the trumpet rally to us there, look, 714 00:55:28.325 --> 00:55:33.265 our God will fight for us. And so he's saying, 715 00:55:33.266 --> 00:55:35.625 look, look, look, when opposition comes, be careful. 716 00:55:36.025 --> 00:55:38.065 'cause if you're spread out, if you're by yourself, 717 00:55:38.066 --> 00:55:41.745 you're setting yourself up as a, as as his target. You're a sitting duck. 718 00:55:42.485 --> 00:55:44.585 But man, when opposition comes, I'm gonna blow this trumpet. 719 00:55:44.586 --> 00:55:47.344 We're gonna come together and we're going to, we're gonna, 720 00:55:47.345 --> 00:55:51.185 we're gonna seek God and prayer, and we're gonna understand that it, 721 00:55:51.186 --> 00:55:53.785 it's our humble interdependence. It all has a job to do, 722 00:55:54.125 --> 00:55:55.825 but it's God that fights our battles. 723 00:55:56.585 --> 00:55:59.665 And then we gotta have that perspective when we realize we can't do it. 724 00:55:59.844 --> 00:56:03.225 We can't build the wall, we can't force the fresh start. 725 00:56:04.635 --> 00:56:07.375 And we're we're led into this prayerful dependence on God. 726 00:56:08.275 --> 00:56:11.815 We realize it's God who fights our battles. Verse 21. 727 00:56:12.275 --> 00:56:14.495 So we labored at the work, 728 00:56:14.594 --> 00:56:18.015 and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came 729 00:56:18.035 --> 00:56:22.895 out, worked all day 22. I also said to the people at that time, 730 00:56:23.185 --> 00:56:25.885 let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, 731 00:56:25.886 --> 00:56:29.525 that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day, 732 00:56:30.035 --> 00:56:33.085 working day and night for what it is that God's called them. Two verse 22. 733 00:56:33.505 --> 00:56:35.765 So neither I nor my brothers, nor my servants, 734 00:56:35.785 --> 00:56:37.364 nor the men of the guard who followed me, 735 00:56:37.365 --> 00:56:39.645 none of us took off our clothes and laid onto rest. 736 00:56:40.195 --> 00:56:43.085 Each kept his weapon at his right hand. 737 00:56:44.875 --> 00:56:49.325 They were sold out man to what it is that God called into. Um, 738 00:56:51.605 --> 00:56:53.305 as we wrap up, I, I want you to see this. 739 00:56:53.325 --> 00:56:57.705 So what you saw there is this picture of people building this wall. 740 00:56:57.885 --> 00:57:00.545 And I envision they've got like a trow in one hand, 741 00:57:00.546 --> 00:57:03.265 like a trow is what they use, you know, to build walls and to push the mortar. 742 00:57:03.485 --> 00:57:08.305 And then they've got their sword in their other hand. And I thought, 743 00:57:08.405 --> 00:57:12.785 man, we don't use a lot of trows, but like as the family of God, 744 00:57:13.364 --> 00:57:16.145 we have been called into building the church of Jesus. And yes, 745 00:57:16.146 --> 00:57:18.225 it starts at home. Yes, it starts in your own life, 746 00:57:18.405 --> 00:57:21.185 but we're also called to share this hope with the world around us. 747 00:57:21.365 --> 00:57:23.385 And I just think, man, I just have this vision. 748 00:57:23.455 --> 00:57:27.705 Like what if we at Hope Community Church where these people that had a shovel in 749 00:57:27.706 --> 00:57:29.425 one hand and had a sword in the other, 750 00:57:30.365 --> 00:57:32.545 and we just knew God's called us to do this job. 751 00:57:33.125 --> 00:57:37.585 But I also know there's gonna be opposition. You're thinking, do you, 752 00:57:38.225 --> 00:57:41.305 I don't want you to carry a real sword to work, okay? Um, 753 00:57:42.245 --> 00:57:45.785 but I've talked in and around Ephesians chapter six, um, 754 00:57:47.595 --> 00:57:48.256 And it says this, 755 00:57:48.256 --> 00:57:52.895 finally be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might put on the whole 756 00:57:52.896 --> 00:57:56.935 armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 757 00:57:57.895 --> 00:57:59.975 And I've read this where we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, 758 00:57:59.976 --> 00:58:01.575 but against the rulers, against authorities, 759 00:58:01.576 --> 00:58:04.855 against cosmic powers over this present darkness against spiritual forces of 760 00:58:04.856 --> 00:58:08.935 evil in the heavenly places. But then you jump down to verse 17, 761 00:58:08.955 --> 00:58:11.495 and he's talking about the different aspects of the armor of God. And he says, 762 00:58:11.496 --> 00:58:15.255 take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, 763 00:58:15.985 --> 00:58:20.735 which is the word of God. And so I just envision, 764 00:58:20.736 --> 00:58:21.775 what if we were this people? 765 00:58:21.776 --> 00:58:24.935 What if we were this family that like had our shovels, 766 00:58:24.936 --> 00:58:27.735 like whatever the unique work is that God has called us to do. 767 00:58:27.915 --> 00:58:31.095 But in our other hand, like we're so bought in, we've got our sword. 768 00:58:31.096 --> 00:58:33.935 Like we're so building our lives on the word of God, 769 00:58:33.936 --> 00:58:37.775 that when that oppression comes, it's so easy to remember the might, 770 00:58:37.835 --> 00:58:40.335 the mightiness, the, the greatness of our God. 771 00:58:43.555 --> 00:58:47.895 We remember what we're fighting for. I mean, could you imagine 772 00:58:50.035 --> 00:58:52.295 2000, 3000, 4,000, 5,000, 773 00:58:52.355 --> 00:58:56.495 10,000 men and women and students all around the communities where our campuses 774 00:58:56.496 --> 00:58:58.855 are located? Where, where you all live, learn, 775 00:58:58.965 --> 00:59:02.655 work and play and understand we've got a job to do. So I'm carrying my, 776 00:59:03.035 --> 00:59:03.935 I'm carrying my shovel, 777 00:59:04.755 --> 00:59:07.615 but I've also got my sword because I know opposition and challenges are gonna, 778 00:59:07.755 --> 00:59:11.975 are gonna come. And when they come, I'm gonna stand strong on the word of God. 779 00:59:14.275 --> 00:59:17.215 So convicted throughout this series. Um, 780 00:59:17.435 --> 00:59:19.495 you just see it over and over and over again. 781 00:59:21.895 --> 00:59:26.495 Nehemiah's first step is always to prayer, doesn't know what to do. 782 00:59:27.165 --> 00:59:31.935 Pray, confusion, pray, opposition, pray, 783 00:59:32.685 --> 00:59:35.995 mockery, pray. Um, 784 00:59:37.185 --> 00:59:38.085 so much so that I, 785 00:59:38.205 --> 00:59:42.325 I told our programming team this past week we're, 786 00:59:42.415 --> 00:59:45.325 we're gonna completely change directions with the series that we're gonna be, 787 00:59:45.925 --> 00:59:49.365 that we were gonna be starting in two weeks once we wrap this series up and 788 00:59:49.366 --> 00:59:53.965 we're just gonna have a three week series just on prayer and dependency on God. 789 00:59:55.205 --> 00:59:56.925 It just seems like such a natural transition. 790 00:59:56.926 --> 01:00:01.445 Like we've got to get our hearts and minds around without the spirit of God 791 01:00:01.446 --> 01:00:04.045 moving. We don't have a chance. 792 01:00:06.755 --> 01:00:09.175 And so here's my hope, here's my encouragement, here's my challenge, 793 01:00:09.235 --> 01:00:13.255 here's my exhortation, my prayer for us, uh, as we wrap up a fe uh, 794 01:00:13.615 --> 01:00:14.695 a Nehemiah chapter four, 795 01:00:14.915 --> 01:00:18.975 is that we would be a people with a prayerful dependence on God 796 01:00:19.755 --> 01:00:22.775 and a humble interdependency on one another. 797 01:00:23.885 --> 01:00:28.345 We would recognize we gotta go to God in prayer. It all starts with him. 798 01:00:28.695 --> 01:00:31.865 He's the beginning, he's the end. He's the one that moves things forward. 799 01:00:32.205 --> 01:00:36.065 But at the same time, we would recognize, yes, God's got a job to do , 800 01:00:36.205 --> 01:00:39.425 but we've got a role to play as well. And so we've got our shovel. 801 01:00:39.445 --> 01:00:42.345 And I know there's a lot of folks that hope that maybe we've pulled back a 802 01:00:42.346 --> 01:00:45.585 little bit of what engagement within this unique family of God looks like. 803 01:00:46.475 --> 01:00:51.105 Maybe it's time to take a step back in. Maybe you're new here around hope. 804 01:00:51.106 --> 01:00:53.305 Maybe you've been here for a few weeks. I'm telling you, 805 01:00:53.325 --> 01:00:56.985 you can be a part of a movement. That is what you were created for. 806 01:01:02.445 --> 01:01:02.485 Look, 807 01:01:02.485 --> 01:01:05.965 I know we're talking about stuff fresh start and some of this stuff is if you're 808 01:01:05.966 --> 01:01:06.805 a part of the family of God, 809 01:01:06.806 --> 01:01:09.285 if you've never made a decision to become a part of the family of God, 810 01:01:09.286 --> 01:01:12.405 to begin a relationship with God through what Jesus has done, we would love to, 811 01:01:12.965 --> 01:01:16.045 uh, come alongside of you, answer any questions that you might have. Um, 812 01:01:16.065 --> 01:01:19.765 you can go to next steps, um, at the campus where you are. Uh, 813 01:01:19.785 --> 01:01:23.285 if you're watching online, you can drop us an email at info@gethope.net. 814 01:01:23.286 --> 01:01:24.525 We would love to follow up with you. 815 01:01:24.945 --> 01:01:29.005 May we be a people that go through our lives where we live, learn, work, 816 01:01:29.006 --> 01:01:32.725 and play shovel in one hand, 817 01:01:33.675 --> 01:01:37.965 soar in the other, and live out God's plans and purposes for our lives. Father, 818 01:01:37.966 --> 01:01:40.965 thank you so much for your word. Um, thank you for Nehemiah chapter four. 819 01:01:40.965 --> 01:01:44.045 Thank you for four chapters that we can go through and we can see your 820 01:01:44.046 --> 01:01:45.205 faithfulness to your people. 821 01:01:45.505 --> 01:01:48.485 And we can see a clear picture of what it means to follow you and to trust in 822 01:01:48.486 --> 01:01:51.685 you in the midst of the brokenness that we find all around us. 823 01:01:52.005 --> 01:01:54.805 I pray that every man and woman and student, they could hear my voice, 824 01:01:55.075 --> 01:01:57.565 Lord would, would learn to trust you, that you would move, 825 01:01:57.566 --> 01:02:01.365 your Holy Spirit would move in their hearts and in their lives to be able to 826 01:02:01.366 --> 01:02:02.965 take the steps forward that you have for them. 827 01:02:02.966 --> 01:02:06.085 Whether that's to pick up a shovel, , whether that's to pick up a sword. 828 01:02:07.035 --> 01:02:09.965 Lord, I pray that they would find strength through whatever challenge, 829 01:02:09.966 --> 01:02:13.125 through whatever opposition that they may face. Lord, 830 01:02:13.126 --> 01:02:15.965 we pray against our enemy in Jesus' name. Lord, 831 01:02:15.966 --> 01:02:19.605 we pray against any scheme that the enemy would have against any man or woman or 832 01:02:19.606 --> 01:02:22.805 student against this family of God called Hope Community Church. 833 01:02:23.265 --> 01:02:26.525 And we pray that we would trust you and that we would follow you in what it is 834 01:02:26.526 --> 01:02:29.205 that you have for us. We love you and we pray these things in Jesus' name. 835 01:02:29.465 --> 01:02:31.325 And everyone said, amen. 836 01:02:32.045 --> 01:02:32.878 Love you God.